Luther and Scripture

Another volume from last year. I bought this one at a Rutherford House Dogmatics Conference a few years ago and was really pleased to have read it last autumn. I've got a number of pages of notes from this book which will appear in time.

Lohse, responding to the many volumes on Luther and his theology, opens with a section on presuppositions relative to a description of Luther's theology. Part 2 sets Luther's theology in its historical development and then Part 3 Luther's theology in its systematic context.

Writing on the psalms lectures:
The sginificance of Scripture for Luther is particularly evident in this word: "The strength of Scripture is this, that it is not changed into him who studies it, but that it transforms its lover into itself and its strengths ... Because you will not change me into what you are .. but you will be changed into what I am." (page 52 - the quote from Luther is from his comments on Ps 67:14)

We, the reader, do not transform the words on the page of Scripture into God's word when it suits us, or when they 'speak to me'. The nature of Scripture is such that contact with Scripture will change the one who loves it. I like this bit, reading Scripture as one who does not love it will not result in change, there is an appropriate way to read, to approach Scripture. The lover of Scripture is transformed by it.
The last bit may cause concern, however, what is Scripture? Scripture is God's gracious self-revelation. So, if Scripture changes its lovers into itself, it will change us into the likeness of the God who is revealed in Scripture. It makes us like Christ. We do not worship Scripture but the God revealed in Scripture and so by Scripture we become like him - his image increasingly clearly displayed in us.

The purpose of the Spirit's coming

Last year I read this great book by Gordon Fee 'God's Empowering Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul'.
Fee is one of our most gifted scholars and expositors and most of this book is a very careful and detailed exposition of all the passages where Paul writes of the Holy Spirit.

I love this quote from the opening section, where writing on 1 Cor 2:4-5 Fee writes,
The purpose of the Spirit's coming was not to transport one above the present age, but to empower one to live within it. (page 98)

If your spirituality is about getting out of this world it isn't a biblical spirituality. Give thanks for the gift of God's Spirit enabling us to live together with him under the sun.

e100

As part of our biblefresh year our congregations are taking on the e100 (Essential 100) bible reading challenge.
100 essential passages of the bible have been chosen and the challenge is to read them in one year.
I have planned a preaching programme for morning services based on these passages and we are using them in our mid-week meetings. We are planning to hold e100 evening services once each month, our first one is on Sunday 30 Jan - Begin At The Beginning, at which we will look at Genesis and invite questions and discussion on themes arising from this important biblical book.
Why not have a look at the e100 web site for yourself - e100

One Year On

It is one year on from the devastating earthquake in Haiti. The media circus has moved onto other things, but we will not forget.
We will not forget to pray, to give, to care.

Why not watch this Tearfund video and pray for the people of Haiti.